The workshop
The workshop is conducted in French, so a certain level of proficiency in the language is required to fully benefit from the training.
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This workshop consists of 5 sessions spread over 5 months (154 hours). Alternating film exercises, location scouting, writing, and presentations to professionals, this comprehensive training allows each participant to learn how to structure their documentary film project. It enables them to clearly articulate the project's stakes and to create a visual outline to convince producers.
In 2023, the in-person sessions took place in various locations in the Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée region:
- At Ethnopôle Garae - Groupe Audois de Recherche et d’Animation Ethnographique (Aude)
- In the municipality of Camplong-d'Aude (Aude)
The programme
1st session: Exploration and Analysis of Film Projects (5 days in person and 2 days remotely)
- Exploration and contextualization of each project: round-table discussion, detailed individual analyses, followed by work in pairs.
- Writing exercises on summary and statement of intent. Defining a sequence.
- The last day of the session will focus on a meeting with regional producer Youssef Charifi (Pages et Images), along with a director whose film he has produced. They will discuss the stages of documentary film production and engage with participants.
Intersession: Location Scouting, Writing, and Filming
- Personal work: location scouting, rewriting of summary and intention note, reading heritage film projects, watching recommended films, and filming a "Characters" sequence related to the film project. Trainers review the filmed sequence and provide detailed feedback. Participants receive critical feedback on the new version of their summary.
2nd session: First Evaluation and Masterclass (2 days remotely)
- Project updates through round-table discussion and sharing experiences.
- Masterclass: Filmmaker Anna Roussillon discusses the filmmaking process, focusing on her film "I Am the People."
Intersession: Rewriting, Watching, and Filming
- Personal work: project rewriting, watching recommended films, and filming an "Object" sequence in a situation related to the film project. Trainers review the filmed sequence and provide detailed feedback. They share a list of potential future written sequences. Participants receive critical feedback on the new version of their statement of intent.
3rd session: Sequence Viewing, Project Progress Update, and Masterclass (5 days in person)
- Collective viewing of the "Object" sequence.
- Project updates through round-table discussion and sharing experiences.
- Individual meetings (with note-taking by another participant) on each project and preparation for future location scouting.
- Introduction of editors.
- Masterclass by a filmmaker: the speaker discusses their creative process and comments on the film projects presented by workshop participants in turns. They address less conventional documentary forms.
Intersession: Writing and Masterclass
- Personal work: writing the synopsis and filming a new "Characters" sequence in a situation, to be sent to trainers and editors. Hélène Frappat holds a masterclass on "Dramaturgy."
4th session: Editing Discussions (3 days remotely)
- Editing of each "Characters" sequence.
- Shared screenings and critical feedback.
Intersession: Final Project Draft
- Personal work: final filming of a sequence in a situation, representative of the film's style and envisioned form (director's place, voice, drawings, photographs, etc.). Finalizing the project's writing and last annotations from trainers, then sending finalized projects to trainers and jury members.
5th session: Project Presentation to Jury and Meetings with Producers (5 days in person)
- Editing of a rough sequence for each film, accompanying the written project.
- Learning the "pitch" method and individual preparation.
- Presentation of projects and visual outline to a jury composed of professionals (director, producer, critic, or festival organizer).
- Final recommendations and "roadmaps" for each project.
- Debriefing and evaluation.
- Training assessment.
- Individual project presentations to producers from the Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region. À changer en Français aussi
Pedagogy
Ateliers Varan teaches the practice of documentary filmmaking, opening one's perspective on the world. Learn more about the Ateliers Varan pedagogical approach
Evaluation
Participants will be assessed throughout the training:
- Individual evaluation grid (monitoring of learning outcomes, progression)
- Tutoring (submission of writing stages, consultation between trainers and jury)
- Evaluation and feedback from a panel of professionals
- Collective evaluation at the end of the training
- Summary report and workshop assessment
Participants will also anonymously evaluate the workshop (individual questionnaires).
More Information
Accessibility
For any requests related to accessibility, please contact Fanny Chapuis: contact@ateliersvaran.com / 01 43 56 64 04
Satisfaction
In 2023, 102 people were trained at Ateliers Varan across all programs. Overall satisfaction rate: 100%.
Career Opportunities
Graduates can pursue careers in audiovisual and film production companies, corporate audiovisual services, and television channels, among others.
Application details
Applications and Selection
( The documents should be written in French.)
- A presentation file including a film project summarized in 2-3 pages maximum, along with an explanation of the project's choice.
Please send these materials via email to contact@ateliersvaran.com along with your complete contact information.
- For shortlisted candidates, final selection will be based on an interview with one or more trainers.
- Priority for enrollment is given to candidates residing in Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée.
Teaching staff
The pedagogical team consists of two mentors who will accompany you throughout the training. A producer and a director will remotely oversee the development of your project, and three editors will assist you in creating a rough cut of your film.
Several masterclasses will punctuate the workshop, featuring contributions from established professionals including directors, writers, film critics, etc. Accomplished speakers expected to attend include José Luis Guérin, Anna Roussillon, Laure Pradal, and Hélène Frappat. A representative from Occitanie Films will be part of the final jury panel.
Ateliers Varan ensures the involvement of various professionals from the Occitanie region.
The Workshop Films
Here are some examples of films produced or in development following a writing workshop:
- Passages, by Bruno Fert (Workshop in 2021): The project received location scouting assistance from "Brouillon d'un rêve" (SCAM).
- Sur le fil, by Chloé Jacquemoud (Workshop in 2018): Chloé Jacquemoud met her film's co-producers, "Les films de la boussole," through the workshop and received development support from the Occitanie region. (more information)
- Three Women from Guadeloupe, by Sandrine Trésor (Workshop in 2021): The film is currently in development, co-produced by 48eme rugissants and Wips production.
- Troisième chapitre, by Marine Relinger (Workshop in 2020): Production ongoing by Les Films d’Ici (Richard Copans).
- Trova Tanguera, by Luz Balana (Workshop in 2020): The film received a grant from "Brouillon d'un rêve" (SCAM) and writing assistance from CNC (FAIA). It is supported by the Occitanie region.
- J'étais prêt, by Nicolas Reglat (Workshop in 2018): The film is produced by two production companies (Les films de l'autre cougar and Les docs du nord). It received a writing grant from "Brouillon d'un rêve" (SCAM), development support from the Occitanie, Hauts de France, and Toulouse Métropole regions, with production assistance also under consideration.
- Terrain glissant, by Christelle Veron (Workshop in 2018): The film received writing assistance from Nouvelle Acquitaine.
This list is non-exhaustive.
Ask Us
Questions about our training courses? Please contact us 01 43 56 64 04
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75011 Paris
